Midwest Horse Fair

[truepenny]

I have recently begun taking dressage lessons, so on Saturday, I played hookey from OddCon and went to the Midwest Horse Fair. I caught the Friesian exhibition, in which my instructor was riding, and which also included a man driving a chariot with a four-horse team. And that? Was INCREDIBLE. Aside from the basic fact of the guy standing in the chariot controlling four horses, his control was good enough for tight turns: the inside horse was basically turning in place, while the outside horse traveled. I know my jaw was hanging open. Caught a little of Steffan Peters' clinic, which was right at the very outer edge of what I can even knowledgeably spectate, but was fascinating. And then I spent the rest of the afternoon just looking at horses.

Friesians, Icelandics, Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses, Norwegian Fjords, Halflingers, Arabians, Morgans, Morabs, Gypsy Cobs, Tennessee Walking Horses, Appaloosas, Saddlebreds, Standardbreds, Quarter Horses, Paints, Andalusians, Mustangs, Peruvians, Missouri Fox Trotters, Thoroughbreds, Ponies of the Americas, donkeys, and some very handsome mules. There were an astonishing number of Miniature Horses, as well as Miniature Donkeys. I entered the Viroqua Wild West Days raffle, not because I want the colt, but because apparently I have a real weakness for old cowboys. I saw the World's Tallest Horse. I saw an extended horse penis--a Gypsy Cob stallion was hanging out, so to speak. I learned that not only are blue-eyed horses a priori disconcerting, but also, full-face, they look alarmingly like Marty Feldman. And the whole time--

You have to understand. When I was between eight and thirteen, I was as stereotypically horse-mad as any prepubescent girl. It wasn't something I could pursue, and so I put it away (high school, college, graduate school, etc.). But when I turned thirty-five last November, something kicked over in my brain and said, "Dude, if you want to do something, you'd better get moving on it." Hence the dressage lessons. And it's like I just picked up my love for horses right where I left it when I was thirteen. So, all afternoon, there was a part of my brain that was just going, "Pony! Pony! Pony!" Absolutely thrilled to death just to be there looking at horses.

In the evening was the Nutrena Show Jumping Grand Prix. You could not pay me enough money to do show jumping, but it's great to watch. And it was a fun and exciting end to a really pleasant day.

Comments

[veejane.livejournal.com]

Whatever you do, don't go looking up horse coat color-genetics on Wikipedia. You will completely lose your mind (not to say 4 hours) and when you emerge you will know the difference between cream and champagne, roan and sorrel, bay and blood bay and a hundred different shades of dun. (Including lavender and blue ones.)

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

... too late. *g*

[veejane.livejournal.com]

It's kinda neat! And it looks like their owners juuust about beat dog-owners in their collective knowledge base in genetic. Also, as I was reading along it swam back into my consciousness how intimately humans have worked with horses, in how many different contexts over the millennia, that we should develop such an elaborate vocabulary to describe things as simple as the variations in their coat-colors.

[wldhrsjen3.livejournal.com]

I got my first horse when I was 21, after two decades of intense longing. And I still go, "Pony! Pony! Pony!" every time I see a horse. I've actually wrenched my neck trying to peer inside a horse trailer as I drove past. :P

I am so happy you're getting the chance to indulge your passion for ponies, and it sounds like you got to enjoy a perfect day. ^_^

[shevabree.livejournal.com]

I too understand the glee and the chanting in ones head. I can't drive past a local rescue center without slowing down to gaze longingly at the horsies and ponies and duckies and llamas ^.^

[aerinha]

Good for you on getting back to your love for horses! I finally got my first horse at 35 (this year) after years of setting the dream aside, not riding or doing anything horse-related. I'm always so happy to hear of people who go for it!
Dressage sounds like a good match for you - I only know you through your entries on this journal, but that's my gut reaction.

... and wow, the chariot exhibition sounds amazing.

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

Thus far, it has been the perfect match. Of course, I'm still the rawest of raw tyros, but having seen dressage lessons at a variety of levels, I don't think my deep pleasure with it is going to change.

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

I have been horse-mad since early childhood, and come by it honestly (maternal grandfather was a Draft Horse Whisperer, trained workhorses as a side job to chicken farming; mother also had it but wasn't as pony-mad as I was). Had horses in my life until college, spent twenty long years away from them (but still going frantically pony-pony-poNNEEEEEEE every chance I got).

Finally got My Own Girl, the Miss Mocha, who I've known since she was foaled. Have owned her for nearly five years, and never cease to marvel at the wonder and beauty of The Girl. Never in my life thought I'd have a horse as nice as her in my life.

I'm so glad you can enjoy your pony-fix! Sounds like a cool show to visit.

[pixel39.livejournal.com]

And yet you post NO LINKS TO PICTURES. Tease. ;-P

[strigine.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, my inner ten-year-old would have been beside herself.

I am also fascinated by the idea of minature donkeys, and must look up pictures!

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

They are cute as buttons, it must be said.

[dancing-crow.livejournal.com]

Hey! welcome to the ranks of adult riders. My first set of (returning) lessons, every newcomer was asked "how long since you've been on a horse?" Answers ranged from 10 to 22 years. Apparently the horse thing can be sublimated but never eradicated, and given half a chance comes back with vigor.

[pixel39.livejournal.com]

Horsies!!

One of these years I am going to take lessons, dammit.

[topknot.livejournal.com]

One of the happiest memories of my youth was working at a horse ranch teaching younger kids how to tack, ride, clean up, feed, groom, etc. It was then that i fell in love with Friesians, though the Lippizan has always held a special place in my heart as well. The Lippizaner Stallions Show (http://www.lipizzaner.com/) was a muchly anticipated treat in Houston. Of course, nowadays i'd likely spend at least as much time drooling over the leather boots as the horses... *g*

[(Anonymous)]

I'm into my third year as a "re-rider" (rode a bit as a kid but nothing serious/long-term). And now? I am obsessed. Want to do eventing/horse trials (dressage, stadium, cross-country).

I, too, will never be doing showjumping at the crazy 5'/6'/7' heights -- I'll be happy if I get to 3'3". But jumping isn't really that hard. In fact, the jump itself I find to be easy. It's getting to the right take-off spot that's all-important. And basically, that's flatwork. Dressage is awesome not just as an end in itself, but as a preparation for jumping.

For horsey information, check out chronicleforums.com Free to join/post. It's also an interesting place from a sociological perspective -- an... *interesting* cross-section of people (predominantly women from the US.) Huge knowledge base, but, y'know, some crackpots, too.

Friesians

[mevincula.livejournal.com]

It wasn't until I saw my first Friesian that I realized why depictions of a knight's horse had that gorgeous arched neck. Mind you, I majored in medieval literature/history with some specialty in medieval art. And I still thought it was a deliberate or accidental misrepresentation which was repeated by other artists for philosophical reasons(such as the shark's teeth on dolphins). Breathtakingly graceful.

Re: Friesians

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

Yes. They look like picture-book horses.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Sounds like great fun!

I had a similar experience--having never been able to afford riding lessons as a kid, when I was an adult out on my own, I took lessons for a year, satisfying my inner child who'd always wanted to learn how to ride. Though I stuck with trail riding and jumping, and was content to admire the dressage students from the sidelines.

Thank you ---

[(Anonymous)]

for signing our library's book at OddCon! I had forgotten about the Horse Fair, and certainly would have gone, myself, if I had remembered. I used to go with a friend every year when I was in high school. :)

- Jen O. (Lisle Library)